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Which Online Casino Is the Best in the US?

August 26, 2024

Which Online Casino Is the Best in the US?

Choosing a decent online casino in the US is already tough, with restrictive gambling policies and laws in each state, but things can get even more messy when you try to narrow it down to a few of the best legal sites. If that rings a bell, don’t worry — our team of seasoned iGaming experts has got you covered with our top 5 picks.

But first, we’ll give you a detailed breakdown of the legal side of things and introduce you to our ranking methods. By the time you’re done reading this guide, you’ll be able to put that knowledge to good use and pick that one casino site perfect for your gaming needs.

Legal Perspective — Where Are Online Casinos Allowed in The US?

Before we get into more details, we first need to address a common inquiry — where are online casinos legal in the US? Well, things are a bit complicated here since you need to consider multiple factors, such as the rulings of PASPA and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), as well as the statewide and federal gambling laws.

Federal rulings like the UIGEA have limited the payment regulation process — due to these restrictions, it is prohibited for anyone involved in the business of betting to knowingly accept credit cards, electronic fund transfers, checks, or any other form of payment involving a financial institution in order to settle illegal internet gambling debts. Nonetheless, state governments have reserved the right to make amendments on the statewide level, so they are in charge of deciding whether online casinos are legal or illegal in their jurisdiction.

Due to all this, the process of legalizing online casinos in the US has been rather slow — especially if you consider how it began more than 10 years ago, when Nevada legalized online poker in 2012. All that said, here’s a list of US states where you can currently play at online casinos without legal restrictions:

Nevada (online poker and betting only)
Connecticut
Delaware
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
Michigan
West Virginia
Rhode Island

There have been talks regarding the legalization of online casinos in a few more locations — most prominently, New York, Indiana, Illinois, Maryland, and Maine. However, Rhode Island remains the only state that has successfully legalized online gambling in 2024, at least for now.

How We Rated the Best US Online Casinos

Now that you know a bit more about the legal background, it’s time to get to work. The following criteria are used by our experts to rate online casinos:

Availability by state — First of all, our goal is to provide you with a list of sites that are available in every state where online gambling is legal. To achieve that, our team verifies the gambling licenses and availability of different casinos.
Welcome bonus — When assessing the best welcome offers, we mainly focus on USD deposit bonus boosts and FS deals, which would allow you to explore games without tapping into your own funds. For instance, sites like BetMGM, with its hefty deposit match and free money offers, or BetRivers, with a decent casino cashback bonus, meet our criteria.
Number of games and providers — While US casinos are still no match for offshore sites in terms of available games and providers, they are getting closer. That’s why we’re always on the lookout for sites that include games from renowned providers like Evolution Gaming and Pragmatic Play.
Payment methods — To make things convenient for US players, we tend to recommend only those casinos that allow payments via AmericanExpress, DiscoverCard, and other US credit cards and banks.
Responsible gambling tools — Last but not least, we encourage our readers to gamble for fun only. That’s why our experts are always on the lookout for casinos with self-exclusion and other responsible gambling tools.

Top 5 Best Online Casinos in the US

To save you time, we’ll jump right into our top 5 picks among US online casinos. Here’s a brief overview of the sites that our team considers worthwhile:

BetMGM

Welcome bonus: 100% deposit match up to $1,000 + $25 free
Number of games: 2,000+
Available in states: Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia
Live dealer games: Yes (Evolution Gaming’s suite)
Payment methods: Maestro, PayPal, VISA, online banking

BetMGM is managed by the reputable BetMGM Resorts International group. The platform doesn’t accept players from Rhode Island and Connecticut yet, but it’s a viable option for players from MI, NJ, PA, and WV.

It currently features a hefty welcome deal: a 100% deposit match up to $1,000, as well as a $25 bonus on the house. Still, this offer could be subject to changes in the near future, so make sure to check its availability and T&Cs when you join.

You can explore its entire gaming collection featuring Evolution’s live dealer games, as well as slots from first-class providers like Hacksaw Gaming. We also appreciate the brand’s efforts to diversify the gaming portfolio with Slingo, Arcade games, and LuckyTap games. Finally, it also boasts a full suite of jackpot titles filtered through categories like Must Go Jackpots, Thundering Jackpots, Steppers, and others.

As an homage to land-based BetMGM venues, the site also offers poker tables and tournaments, including daily tourneys and hot tables. Plus, you can refer a friend and get a $50 poker bonus to play at your own table.

BetRivers

Welcome bonus: Up to $500 second-chance bonus
Number of games: 500+
Available in states: Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia
Live dealer games: Yes (Evolution Gaming and BetRivers exclusives)
Payment methods: VISA, Maestro, online banking

BetRivers is yet another online casino that’s available in most US states where online gambling is legal. However, it features a different type of welcome bonus: a $500 second-chance offer with an industry-low 1x wagering requirement. Of course, it could be subject to changes; also, keep in mind that BetRivers may offer different promotions depending on the state.

Still, the gaming selection is always the same, with more than 500 releases from popular slot providers like NetEnt and BTG. It also offers instant (or so-called “Quick Pay”) games, including some in-house releases like BetRivers Wishes. These can mainly be found in the scratch card category. Live dealer tables are available, too — namely, you will find Evolution’s tables and live streams from the official BetRivers studio.

What we liked the most about the site was the selection of daily and weekly tourneys on slots and live dealer games like blackjack. Plus, there’s always plenty going on in the Progressive section, with popular releases like 1 Billion Treasures, 10,000 Wolves, 10,001 Nights, and others.

Borgata

Welcome bonus: Up to $1,000 on sign-up plus a $20 free casino bonus
Number of games: 500+
Available in states: New Jersey and Pennsylvania
Live dealer games: Yes (Evolution Gaming)
Payment methods: VISA, Maestro, online banking

Borgata is another brand that operates under BetMGM’s wing; however, since it’s a separate platform, it has different gaming options and features compared to the BetMGM online casino. The one thing it shares is the “BetMGM Rewards” program, which allows you to collect points and use them for different benefits, even in land-based casino venues from the group.

As a member, you can opt-in for Borgata Bucks — a daily jackpot system with rewards that include “Must Go” prizes and community jackpots. All you have to do is bet $0.1 on your favorite slot from the list of qualifying games.

Besides the jackpot rewards and loyalty program, Borgata also excels at its own in-house games. Players will be thrilled to learn that they can find American favorites, like IGT’s online slots, in its library. The gaming selection is mainly supported by Evolution, Light and Wonder, and Novomatic.

Most casino bonuses available at Borgata have x1 wagering requirements, so it is on par with BetRivers in that sense.

PartyCasino

Welcome bonus: 200% deposit match bonus up to $100
Number of games: 400+
Available in states: New Jersey
Live dealer games: Yes (Evolution Gaming)
Payment methods: Credit cards, online banking

PartyCasino is currently only available to players from New Jersey. Other than that, there aren’t too many flaws our team could single out.

This casino offers Party Pots jackpot prizes, which are awarded daily. Its library includes titles from some heavyweights in the industry, such as IGT and Triple Edge Studios. However, you will also find Evolution Gaming releases, which means you’ll get to enjoy some action-packed live dealer gameplay.

The site features some of the slots commonly found in Vegas, like Cats or Wolf Run — as such, it’s an ideal choice for those players who want to switch to online gambling. It also has an array of responsible gambling tools available through the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, as well as an emergency hotline.

As a newcomer, you can claim a 200% deposit match bonus; plus, since PartyCasino is also a sweepstakes website, you can also receive a sweeps bonus. With these coins, you’ll get to enjoy some free play while also claiming weekly and monthly rewards.

FanDuel

Welcome bonus: 200 bonus spins + up to $1,000 casino cashback bonus
Number of games: 200+
Available in states: Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia
Live dealer games: Yes (Evolution Gaming and FanDuel in-house games)
Payment methods: Credit cards, online banking

Besides being the top DFS site in the US, FanDuel is also home to some of the best live dealer releases in the country. Namely, the site features Evolution’s live tables, offering players access to the best options in land-based casinos like craps, poker, and blackjack. Apart from these, you will also find some quality in-house releases.

It boasts some of the best bonuses as well, mainly focusing on casino cash back and free spins. For instance, you can currently get 200 spins on the World of Wonka slot; still, keep in mind that the qualifying slots might change.

You can also get daily bonus spins and progressive jackpot prizes through wheel games and slots. Some iconic games that are popular among players across the US (like Cleopatra by IGT) are also available at FanDuel’s online casino.

If you want to get the most out of your experience, make sure to give the Reward Machine a try. Spin the reels 3 times a day for free — by matching 3 symbols, you’ll get a chance to score a hefty win immediately.

FAQ

Where are online casinos legal in the USA?

US online casinos are currently only legal in Michigan, Connecticut, West Virginia, Delaware, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Nevada (poker only).